Museum Safety Associate

The Opportunity 

The Museum Safety Associate supports the safety and security of the Museum’s collections, visitors, staff, and facilities through daily patrols, incident reporting, and security system maintenance. The position also provides backup visitor and reception services, assists with classroom and event logistics, and responds to building or facility issues as needed. The role includes training and mentoring students and volunteers and participating in professional development aligned with Cornell’s mission and values. 

About The Johnson Museum 

The Johnson Museum houses a permanent collection of approximately 40,000 works spanning six millennia and representing cultures from around the world. The Museum presents major exhibitions and programs that promote new scholarship, fresh perspectives, and collaboration with Cornell faculty, students, scholars, and cultural communities. The Museum also provides educational outreach to the regional community, serving more than 6,000 schoolchildren annually and offering professional development for area teachers. 

It supports teaching and learning across Cornell by hosting approximately 350 class sessions each academic year. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Conduct regular patrols of museum galleries and public and non-public areas. 

• Maintain records of artwork locations and gallery conditions. 

• Coordinate with Museum staff to open and close the Museum according to established protocols. 

• Activate, monitor, and maintain security systems and cameras. 

• Document security incidents in the University Incident Reporting Systems. 

• Maintain security equipment, including two-way radios, detectors, and alarm systems; complete battery replacements, logs, and blueprint updates as needed. 

• Track and update staff coverage calendars as needed. 

• Monitor non-Museum personnel, including caterers and building care staff. 

• Provide backup visitor services and reception support as needed. 

• Greet visitors, provide information, and respond to questions. 

• Assist with classroom and event logistics for clients and educators. 

• Ensure the smooth delivery of technology services and classroom/event room setup. 

• Create and update 25Live entries by placing holds on facility spaces, entering detailed event information, and coordinating schedules with the in-house calendar. 

• Respond to emergency facility issues in the absence of the Building Coordinator. 

What We Need 

For further consideration, please submit a resume and cover letter. 

• High school diploma and related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

• Demonstrated ability to remain calm and exercise sound judgment during emergencies and high-pressure situations. 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively and respectfully with diverse groups, including staff, students, visitors, and external service providers. 

• Ability to work independently while following established protocols and procedures. 

• Basic technical proficiency with security equipment, including radios, detectors, and alarm systems. 

• Ability and willingness to learn and use new software platforms, including event scheduling systems and incident reporting tools. 

• Physical ability to patrol galleries and facilities, including alternating between sitting and standing for extended periods and repeatedly using staircases. 

• Strong attention to detail and ability to multitask effectively in a fast-paced environment. 

• Demonstrated ability to understand and navigate cultural differences. 

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it’s ok if you don’t. 

• Prior experience working in a museum, cultural institution, or higher education setting. 

• Familiarity with 25Live web-based scheduling and calendar systems, EHS Incident Reporting, and facilities work order systems. 

• Experience coordinating with external security providers, law enforcement, or facilities management teams. 

• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, resolve visitor concerns, and troubleshoot facility issues effectively. 

• Demonstrated commitment to professional development and alignment with Cornell’s mission, vision, and values. 

• Experience working with audio-visual equipment. 

This role is a full-time (40-hours/week) role requiring on-site presence at the Johnson Museum of Art. This position follows a flexible work schedule that includes weekdays, evenings, and weekends, and may involve split days off and on-call availability. Shifts vary between the hours of 7:00AM and 8:00PM, as Johnson Museum of Art is a 7-day per week operation. 

Rewards and Benefits  

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability. 

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell. 

• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell 

• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell 

• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | Working at Cornell. 

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.